Receive the latest national-international updates in your inbox

"There has never been a man or a woman — not me, not Bill, nobody — more qualified than Hillary Clinton to serve as president of the United States of America," said President Barack Obama at the DNC on its third day, July 27, 2016. (Published Wednesday, July 27, 2016)

President Barack Obama joined a chorus of Democrats at the party's convention imploring voters to elect Hillary Clinton, casting her as a candidate who believes in the nation's future and warning against the pessimism of Republican Donald Trump.

For Democrats, the night was steeped in symbolism, the passing of the baton from a barrier-breaking president to a candidate trying to make history herself. Obama robustly vouched for Clinton's readiness to be commander in chief, saying "no matter how daunting the odds, no matter how much people try to knock her down, she never, ever quits."

Wednesday night's lineup at the Democratic National Convention was aimed at emphasizing Clinton's national security credentials, a shift from two nights focused more on re-introducing her to voters as a champion for women's issues, children and families. Democrats spent little time discussing terrorism or the Islamic State group this week, though there was significantly more focus on those threats Wednesday.

I have no doubt that @HillaryClinton is the right choice. Join me in supporting her – not out of party loyalty, but out of love of country.

The Trump campaign said in a statement that the night's speeches were full of empty rhetoric that offered no solutions for the country.

"Instead of dealing with reality, they spoke in cheap, petty terms beneath the dignity of a convention. Their entire message could be summed up as: things are perfect, let's not change a single thing," the statement said.

Trump fueled controversy earlier Wednesday when he encouraged Russia to meddle in the presidential campaign. On the heels of reports that Russia may have hacked Democratic Party emails, Trump said, "Russia, if you're listening," it would be desirable to see Moscow find and publish the thousands of emails Clinton says she deleted during her years as secretary of state.

The convention's third night was also a time for Democrats to celebrate Obama's legacy. Vice President Joe Biden, who decided against running for president this year after the death of his son, called it a "bittersweet moment."

A son of Scranton, Pennsylvania, Biden appealed directly to the working class white voters who have been drawn to Trump's populism, warning them against falling for false promises and exploitation of Americans' anxieties.

"This guy doesn't have a clue about the middle class," he declared.

Chelsea Clinton Speaks at DNC

Chelsea Clinton Speaks at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday night.

(Published Friday, July 29, 2016)

Kaine picked up the traditional attacking role of the presidential ticket's No. 2. With folksy charm, he tore into Trump, mocking his pledges to build a wall along the Mexican border, asking why he has not released his tax returns and slamming his business record, including the now-defunct Trump University.

"Folks, you cannot believe one word that comes out of Donald Trump's mouth," Kaine said. "Our nation is too great to put it in the hands of slick-talking, empty-promising, self-promoting, one-man wrecking crew."

Liberals, particularly those who supported Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, have grumbled about Kaine being on the ticket, particularly because of his support for "fast track" approval of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact. Several delegates held up anti-TPP signs as he spoke.

In a move aimed at broadening Clinton's appeal, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg — an independent who considered launching a third party bid for president — endorsed the Democratic nominee. A billionaire businessman himself, Bloomberg took aim at Trump's bankruptcies, reliance on foreign factories and other economic experience: "The richest thing about Donald Trump is his hypocrisy."

President Bill Clinton, filling the role of devoted political spouse, joined the crowd packed to the arena rafters in cheering the attacks on Trump.

Clinton's campaign believes Trump's unorthodox candidacy will turn off moderate Republicans, particularly women, who worry he's too unpredictable to take the helm in a turbulent world. They recognize that Republicans, as well as many Democrats, have questions about Clinton's character but hope to ease those concerns.

Hillary Clinton Quotes Roosevelt's Fear Speech

Remarking on Donald Trump's reliance on fear, Hillary Clinton quoted President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's famous fear quote that he gave during the throes of the Great Depression.

(Published Friday, July 29, 2016)

Still, the core of Clinton's strategy is putting back together Obama's winning White House coalition. In both his campaigns, Obama carried more than 90 percent of black voters, the overwhelming majority of Hispanics, and more than half of young people and women.

That coalition was vividly on display in the first two nights of the convention in Philadelphia. Women lawmakers were prominently featured, along with young activists, immigrants, and mothers whose black children were victims of gun violence or killed during encounters with law enforcement.

Gun violence continued as a theme Wednesday night as families of mass shooting victims took the stage. Delegates rose in an emotional standing ovation for the mother of one of the victims in last month's Orlando nightclub shooting, who asked why "commonsense" gun policies weren't in place when her son died.

"I never want you to ask that question about your child," Christine Leinonen said.

Capping the somber section of the program focused on gun violence, a group of Broadway singers performed a rousing rendition of "What the World Needs Now Is Love," as the audience sang and swayed in unison.

Clinton's convention has been awash in history, with energized delegates celebrating her formal nomination as the first woman to ever lead a major political party in the general election. Some supporters of Sanders, her primary opponent, continued to voice their displeasure.

Clinton on Trump: 'A Man You Can Bait With a Tweet'

In her remarks at the DNC on July 28,2016, Hillary Clinton called her opponent Donald Trump "a man you can bait with a tweet" and "not a man we can trust with nuclear weapons."